EMDR Therapy PGCert

Teaching

We place emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip them with lifelong learning that they can integrate directly into their current clinical practice, in addition, to enhancing their academic understanding and achievement. The PGCert EMDR therapy will provide a mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support. Our personal academic tutoring systems enables the student to critically reflect on their progress in building a clinical skill set, achievements and experiences that will enable them to flourish and be successful.

Students will be taught through a combination of on-campus lectures and self-directed study tasks. As student are currently engaged in clinical practice, weekends are used to minimise the impact on existing clinical provision. The teaching days will involve different learning activities including didactic teaching, discussion forums, problem-based learning, clinical skills and self-experience.

In addition, student’s will have opportunities to meet with their personal academic tutor in accordance with the course handbook.

The programme will utilise face to face delivery with modules being supported with the use of online reading materials. There is an emphasis on self-directed autonomous learning with students applying learning outcomes and content to their own areas of interest or practice which is evidenced through a variety of module assessments. Teaching within the course aims to be engaging for students with formal approaches such as lectures being interspersed with discussion, debates, analysis of cases, and examples from clinical practice. Learning approaches may include the use of Blackboard Collaborate, online discussion forums and flipped classrooms which expect students to complete independent work in preparation for teaching sessions to reinforce learning. Sessions take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures and are focused on developing subject specific skills and applied individual and group project work. Tutorials are a key aspect of the learning strategy with student being encouraged to share their assessment plans with tutors and peers, allowing structured questions and feedback. Tutorials can be face-to-face or utilise technologies such as Skype.

Contact time

Students complete 60 credits across four blocks of four days of teaching throughout two 12-week semesters in one academic year. In each semester, there are two blocks of four days of teaching sessions.

Lectures on the four days of teaching and learning will include self-directed study tasks and practice skills that link with the overall assignment for the module. The module specification will outline the taught, self-experience practicums, and self-directed elements on Blackboard.

Independent self-study

In addition to the blocks of teaching, students are expected to undertake up to 20 hours of personal independent learning per week.  Typically, this will involve completing further reading, critical reflections on practice, planning, preparing coursework assignments and reflective logs.  

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, delivered through the virtual learning environment and extensive electronic library resources. 

Duration

Two semesters

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Each block will consist of 4 days of teaching from Thursday to Sunday. Dates will be advertised in advance.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by international experts in EMDR therapy that have been accredited by EMDR Europe either as a Trainer or Consultant/ Clinical Supervisor whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the core content of the module.

The course leader Dr Derek Farrell MBE is an accredited EMDR trainer and consultant. This course is delivered by the course leader, supplemented by external specialists (EMDR Europe Consultants) to assist the practicum/self-experience sessions and participate in the wider issue of students’ clinical practice development.

In addition, the module is already accredited by EMDR Europe until 2023. The teaching is also informed by research and development activity, and current clinical engagement by the teaching team, who have either a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. You can learn more about the teaching staff by visiting their staff profiles.

Assessment

The PGCert EMDR therapy provides an opportunity to test understanding, integration in clinical practice, and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignment, and the presentation of clinical case examples. The module will have summative assessments, graded at M level in accordance with UW Postgraduate established criteria, that will contribute to meaningful professional development of clinical practice.

The programme requires 100% attendance requirement and a pass grade on summative assessments in order to be completed successfully with EMDR Europe accreditation.

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback will be provided by the Module Leader. Feedback & Feedforward is intended to support learning and theory/practice integration. Student’s will be encouraged to discuss feedback/ feedforward with their Personal Academic Tutor.

We provide students with feedback on formal course work assessment within 20 working days of hand-in.

A typical formal summative assessment pattern, for a student in one year is:

Semester 1:

1 x Case analysis and plan

1 x Record of attendance and engagement in self experience practicum sessions (to be maintained on an ongoing basis)

1 x Record of clinical supervision (to be maintained on an ongoing basis  

Semester 2:

1 x Poster Presentation

1 x Reflective Workbook

1 x Record of attendance and engagement in self experience practicum sessions (to be maintained on an ongoing basis)

1 x Record of clinical supervision (to be maintained on an ongoing basis) 

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.